SF 49ers: 3 players who should be benched after Week 10 loss to Saints

The SF 49ers received lackluster play from a good chunk of their team versus the Saints, and these three need to be dropped down the depth chart.

Following their 27-13 Week 10 loss to the New Orleans Saints, the SF 49ers have to accept the reality of their situation and the overwhelming likelihood they won’t get into the playoffs amid such a rough NFC West.

Sure, there are chances. But with just how poorly the Niners offense has played the last three weeks, all losses, it’s time for head coach Kyle Shanahan shakes up his roster and moves players down the depth chart while moving others up.

There are multiple reasons for this. In some cases, San Francisco would be fielding a better team with someone else in a starting/primary-backup role. In others, Shanahan would be wise to see if some other depth players might be better off developing for future consideration in 2021 and beyond.

In a way, Shanahan has already started doing this. The team parted ways with wide receiver Dante Pettis just after the NFL trade deadline, opening up another roster spot. And cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who doesn’t seem pegged to be part of the SF 49ers’ future beyond this season, has been inactive for back-to-back weeks.

Those extra reps for other players may be crucial in determining how much roster work Shanahan and general manager John Lynch will have to do this offseason.

A few players simply aren’t benefiting the Niners much over these recent weeks, and some of the massive letdowns in Week 10 only solidified the understanding they should be dropped down the depth chart.

Benched, essentially.

Let’s look at three such players who fall into this category.